April 18, 2022

The Institute for Nonprofit News has appointed media leader Soraya Membreno as chief operating officer to lead organizational development as INN extends programs and support to a growing number of nonprofit newsrooms across North America.

Membreno will create and implement more efficient processes and systems that support both INN staff and the more than 360 newsrooms in the INN Network.

“My goal is to help make INN an even more supportive and future-thinking place to work,” said Membreno, “where we model the sustainability and capacity-building that we help our members achieve and create a work culture that provides the framework necessary to continue making innovative strides in the field of nonprofit journalism.”

Membreno is a graduate of the Executive Program in News Innovation and Leadership at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, where she developed a capstone project to define the intersection of identity-based media and journalism-support structures. 

Prior to joining INN, she served as the publisher of Bitch Media — an independent, feminist, nonprofit media outlet. As publisher, she led the leadership team in developing and implementing the organization’s strategic goals, overseeing the organization’s budget, operations and growth as well as the development, finance, data and operational systems departments.

“The nonprofit news field has grown rapidly, and INN now supports up to 5,000 people working in member news organizations. It’s time to make sure INN has the internal capacity to support that continued growth,” said Sue Cross, INN’s CEO & executive director. “We are thrilled to have Soraya on board to focus on our people and practices, so that we can keep up with the pace of growth and expand our member support  in a positive and inclusive way.”

Membreno also will support operational leaders in nonprofit newsrooms by launching and leading a COO peer group.

Before becoming publisher at Bitch Media, Membreno served as the organization’s first-ever director of community. She designed the organization’s fundraising and communications strategies — boosting the membership program from $40,000 in recurring monthly income to $72,000 in just two years. She has also worked in development and communications for GenderAvenger and Poets & Writers, Inc.

A first-generation Nicaraguan-American forever repping Miami, Membreno now lives in Los Angeles.